Automobile headlamp



Sep. 20, 1932. E F SARVER 1,8?7,978

AUTOMOBILE HEADLAMP Filed Jan; 2o, 1932 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 f time EMMETT F. SABVER, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO BESSIE W. STUNZ, F

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI AUTOMOBILE HEADLAMP Application led January 20, 1932. Serial No. 587,685.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile headlamps.

One of the objects of my 1nvent1on 1s to provide a novel auxiliary reflector, adaptedl 5 to be mounted in the main reflector of a headlamp, which will reflect upon the main reflector` forwardly and downwardly -projected rays that, in the ordinary headlamp not so equipped, produce a glare inzthe eyes 1o of motorists coming from the front, the disposition and shape of the auxiliary reflector being such that the intercepted rays reflected by it upon the main reflector are projected by the latter as parallel longitudinal rays,

which increase the efficiency of the headlamp and eliminate objectionable glare.

A further object of my invention is the provision in the auxiliary reflector of' means for obstructing rays that are projected downwardly from the source of light upon the main reflector, which rays also produce a glare at'the front.

Still another object of my invention 1s the provision in the auxiliary reflector of novel means by which some of the forwardly projected parallel rays are reflected laterally so as to illuminate the road along the sides thereof, whereby the driver of the machine can easily see objects at the sides of the road, alfdesirable thing, particularly when making turns.

My invention provides still further a novel auxiliary reflector which is simple, cheap to make, durable, not likely to get out of order, and which can easily be mounted by an unskilled person in the headlamp of his car.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the prefered embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view, showing my improved auxiliary reflector mounted in the reflector of a headlamp of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a central horizontal sectional viewl Fig. 4 is a top view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the auxiliary reflector.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates the usual parabolical automo- 55 bile headlamp reflector in which is mounted in the usual manner a source of light comprising an electric light bulb 2, the filament 3 of which is in the focus of the main reflector 1.

4 designates the front portion of my improved auxiliary reflector, preferably composed of sheet metal, the rear sidev of said, front portion 1 being concave, preferably spherically concave, and having a reflecting surface.

The front portion4 is disposed in front of and in longitudinal alinement with the filament 3, which is the light source, and at such a distance from the filament or focus of the main reflector that the said focus will be the center of curvature of the concave part of the front portion 4. When mounted the rear side of the front portion 4 will bear against the front end of the bulb 2.

Extending rearwardly from the lower ends of the front portion 4 is a substantially hori- -zontal wide arm 5 disposed under the-bulb 2 between the latter and the main reflector 1. This arm 5 is opaque and at its rear end is 8o upwardly turned, the upwardly turned portion having in its upper edge a V shaped notch 6 adapted to receive a cylindrical supporting device, such as the stem 7 of the bulb 2. A coil spring 8 has its ends attached to the arm 85 5 at opposite sides of the notch 6 and is adapted to encircle the stem 7 for holding the auxiliary reflector engaged with the bulb 2. y

Two vertical wings 9 having rear reflectingr90 sides extend laterally from opposite side edges of the front portion 4, and are so disposed as to intercept some of the parallel forwardly projected rays and reflect them laterally. Thus rays from the filament 3, striking the main reflector 1 at A, Fig. 2, will be reflected thereby against the wings 9 which in turn will reflect them laterally against the reflector 1 at B, which will reflect them laterally and forwardly ahead of the machine, .as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. With a, further forward inclination of the wings 9, the rays. reflected. thereby would pass directly forwardly and laterally without striking the main reflector. The side areas will thus be lighted, thereby enabling the driver to plainly see objects at the right or left of the road.

By reason of the concave rearreecting surface of the front portion 4 having as its center of curvature lthe focus of the mainfreflector 1, a ray from the filament 3 at the focus projected against vsaid (concave surface at C, F ig. 1, will be reflected'back to the light source, instead of passing forwardly out of the reflector 1, and will be added' to the ray passing to the point Don the reflector l from which it will be reflected forwardly longitudinally. A ray striking the concave portion at- E will be reflected through the light source 3 against the main reflector 1 to the point F, from which it will be reflected forwardly longitudinally. 'Thus the rays projected directly forwardly from the light source 3, and which' produce the usual objectionable glare, will be intercepted by the front portion 4, reflected thereby upon the reflector 1 and by it will be reflected forwardly in parallel lines, thus eliminating the glare and adding to the efficiency of the headlamp.

vAs shown in Fig. 2, laterally projected rays striking the main reflector 1 will be projected forwardly in parallel lines, while rays projected downwardly and forwardly or rearwardly from the light source 3 will be intercepted before striking the reflector 1, thus eliminating rays which usually are reflected forwardly and upwardly from the lower portion lofthe main reflector 1, and which are likely to be projected into the eyes of an oncoming motorist. The arm` 5 thus serves the double function of intercepting these rays and of supporting the auxiliary reflector.

vThe upper part^ of the front portion 4 of the auxiliary reflector extends upwardly and rearwardly far enough to intercept rays which would pass directly forwardly and upwardly out of and without striking the reflector 1, as the ray indicated by the dotted line G in Fig. 1. l

When the auxiliary reflector is to be insert- Aed into a headlamp, and is to be supported by the bulb Istem 7 the latter is inserted between the coil spring 8 and the arm 5 and into the notch 6, the front end of the bulb 2 being inserted in the concavity of the front portion 4. The .tension of the spring 8 holds the auxiliary reflector firmly engaged with the bulb'2 and the stem 7. The bulb is then inserted into theheadlamp with the arm 5 of the auxiliary reflector under the bulb, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

I do notlimit my invention to the structure shown and described as modifications, within the scope'of the appended claims, may

Lamers be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is v1.. ln an automobile headlamp, the combination with a main curvilinear reector and a source of light in the focus thereof, of an auxiliary reector forward of 'and in longitudinal alinement with said focus and dis- 2. An auxiliary headlamp reector com` prising a front portion having a concave reflecting rear side, asubstantially wide horizontal opaque arm. extending-. rearwardly from said front portion, and two vertical wings extending laterallyr. and forwardly from oppo'site side edges respectively of said front portion and having reflecting rear sides.

3. An auxiliary headlamp reflector having an upright front portion having a concave reflecting rear side, a substantially wide horizontal opaque arm extending rearwardly from the lower edge of said front portion, two wings extending laterally and forwardly from opposite side edges respectively of said front portion and-having reflecting rear sides, and a coil spring having its ends attached to said arm and adapted to embrace and hold said arm engaged with a supporting device.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EMMETT F. SARVER. 

